Machine gun hanger



0d. 2, 1945. C, W THOMPSON I 2,386,015

MACHINE GUN HANGER Filed Dec. 27,- 1943 IN VEN TOR. (2x4/w55 /7/ Mya/Y MACHINE GUN HANGER Charles W. Thompson, Sullivan, Colo.

Application December 27, 1943, Serial No. 515,811

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a machine gun hanger. In the waist positions of an airplane such as the bombardiers and navigators quarters, machine guns are mounted for temporary use only, and when not in use, areturned against the wall to be out of the way.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a hanger which can be extendedfrom the wall to engage and support the machine gun when the latter is not in use, and which, when the gun is in use, will fold against the wall so as not to form an obstruction in the ship.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the machine gun hanger that the gun can be instantli7 attached to or detached from the hanger so that it will be ready for instant use at any time.

Other objects and advantages reside in the detail construction of the invention, which is designed for simplicity, economy, and eiiciency. These will become more apparent from the following description.

In the following detailed description of the invention reference is had to the accompanying drawing which forms a part hereof. Like numerals refer to like parts in all views of the drawing and throughout the description.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan view illustrating the invention as it would appear when in use supporting a machine gun;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the improved hanger illustrating it mounted on one of the ribs of the aircraft and in the extended position;

Fig. 3 is a similar View illustrating the hanger in the folded position;

Eig. 4 is an end View of the improved hanger; an

Fig. 5 is a cross section therethrough, taken on the line 5 5, Fig. 2.

In Fig. l, the side wall or skin of an airplane is indicated at I0 having a machine gun Window II formed of Plexiglas or similar material projecting therefrom. The usual ribs of the fuselage are indicated at I2. A machine gun I3 is mounted with its barrel I4 in a universal ball I5 which is rotatably mounted in ball socket rings I6 in the Plexiglas. The gun I3 is provided with the usual adaptor frame I 1 employed for supporting the feed chute, shell sack, and handles I8. The usual adaptor frame I'I is provided with four longitudinally extending side rods I9, and it is these side rods of the adaptor frame of the machine gun that this invention applies.

The improved hanger comprises an elongated plate 29, preferably of aluminum or its alloy. One extremity of the plate is perforated to one side of the center line thereof to receive a pivot bolt 2I, by means of which it is attached to one of the ribs I2 of the fuselage. A stopy block 22is formed on, or secured to, the plate 20'to one side thereof at a position where it will contact the rib I2 ywhen the plate 29 is in either the horizontal position of Fig. 2, or the vertical position of Fig. 3. The stop block acts as a stop to limit the movement of the plate to either of these positions.

An irregular shaped recess is formed in the outer extremity of the upper edge of the plate 20. This recess is formed to provide a first upwardly opening, arcuate notch 23 positioned to receive one of the rods I9 and a second, downwardly opening, arcuate notch 24 positioned to receive the opposite rod I9. Between the two notches 23 and 24, a rectangular notch 25 is formed which serves as a rest for the bottom of the machine gun I3. The plate extends in a curve from the arcuate notch 25 to the notch 24 to allow the rod I9 to be placed in the latter by simply rotating the gun in its ball socket rings I6. l

Without further addition, the device served to effectively lock and support the machine gun in place. To position the gun, the gunner simply rotates the gun to first hook one rod in the notch 24 and then bring the other rods I9 into the notch 23. The gun can not be detached from the hanger without reverse rotation thereof, and this rotation is resisted by the friction of the ball I5 and its socket I6 so that the gun is very effectively locked in position.

Should additional locking be desired for safety reasons, aA swinging latch member 21 may be mounted on a pivot bolt 28 on the plate 20, and positioned to be drawn against a stop pin 29 by means of a tension spring 30 attached to the stop block 22. The upper extremity of the latch 21 is curved to conform to the outline of the side rod I9. The latch member does not interfere with the placing of the side rod in the notch 24 since it will readily swing from the passage as the rod enters. When the rod is in place, however, it can not be withdrawn without holding the lower eX- tremity of the latch member forward. The latch provides additional safety, should it be so desired.

While a specic form of the improvement has been described and illustrated herein, it is desired to be understood that the same may be varied, within the scope of the appendedclaims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A hanger adapted to detachably support a machine gun from a substantially vertical supporting member, the gun being of the type having an adaptor frame with two parallel, longitudinally extending side rods, comprising: an elongated at plate; means for pivotally securing said plate to said supporting member so that it will lie in a vertical plane with its longer axis substantially horizontal; a recess formed in the upper edge of said plate shaped and adapted to receive and support the bottom of the gun; a hook formed from said plate at one side of said recess adapted to overlie the upper portion of one of the side rods of the adaptor frame; a notch formed in said plate at the other side of said recess adapted to receive and underlie the lower portion of the other side rod of the adaptor frame, the bottom ofA the recess being cut away and adapted to allow the first side rod to be positioned beneath said hook by rotation-.of the gun.

A hanger adapted. to detachably support a machine gun from a substantial-ly vertical supporting'member, the being of the type having an adaptor frame with two'parafllel, longitudinally extending side rods, comprising: an elongated flat plane means for pivotally securing said plate to sa-id supporting member so that it will lie in a vertical plane with its longer axis substantially horizontal; a recess formed in the upper edge of said plate shaped and adapted to receive and support the bottom of the gun; a hook formed from said plate at one side of said recess adapted to overlie the upper portion of one of they side rods of the adaptor frame;- a notch formed in said plate at fil the other side of said recess adapted to receive and underlie the lower portion of the other side rod of the adaptor frame, the bottom of the recess being cut away and adapted to allow the first side rod to be positioned beneath said hook by rotation of the gun; and a spring actuated latch member positioned to automatically engage the lower portion of the rst side rod to support the latter beneath said hook.

3. A hanger adapted to detachablyy support a machine gun from a substantially vertical supporting member, the gun being of the type having an adaptor frame with two parallel, longitudinally extending side rods, comprising: an elongated flat plate; means for pivotally securing said plate to said supporting member so that it will lie in a vertical plane with its longer axis substantially horizontal; a recessV formed in the upper edge of said plate. shaped and adapted to receive and support the bottom of the gun; a hook formed from said plate at one side of said recess adapted to overlie the upper portion of one of the. side rods of the adaptor frame; a notch formed in said plate at the other side of said recess. adapted to receive and underlie the. lowerportionofthe other side rod of the adaptor frame, the bottom of the recess being cut away and adapted to allow the rst side rod to be positioned beneath said hook` byY rotation of vthe gun ;v` and a spring actuated latch member positioned to automatically engage the lower portion ofthe rst side rod to support the latter beneath said hook; and stop means fory preventing movement of said plate below a horizontal position.

CHARLES W. THOMPSON. 

